APGAR Score Calculator
Score appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
Understanding this tool
Why nurses use it
The APGAR score assesses newborn transition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth — appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration. It guides initial resuscitation response and documentation.
When to use it
Use at 1 and 5 minutes after birth for all deliveries; repeat at 10 minutes if 5-minute score is low.
Calculate
How to use this calculator
- Score each of five components 0, 1, or 2.
- Sum for total out of 10.
- Provide support per neonatal resuscitation protocol for low scores.
How the calculation works
Each component reflects adaptation: colour, heart rate, reflex irritability, muscle tone, and breathing effort. Total 7–10 is generally reassuring at 5 minutes.
Formula used by this tool — verify units before applying at the bedside.
Worked example
Limitations & clinical notes
- Score at 1 and 5 minutes; low 5-min score predicts morbidity better than 1-min.
- Not used for resuscitation decisions alone.
References
Key sources: Apgar V — original score (1953).
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Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational and bedside double-check purposes only. It does not replace institutional protocols, prescriber orders, pharmacist verification, or clinical judgment. Always follow your local policies — especially for high-risk medications, infusions, pediatrics, and critical care. If the patient is acutely unwell, escalate immediately rather than relying on any calculator output.